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Critics are calling the law unconstitutional, even going so far as to call it illegal.

This ordinance doesn't just affect people in Burlington. It applies to all of us, whether you live in Vermont or otherwise. If you visit Church Street, this affects you.

And that's why some are now calling for the release of the Burlington city attorney's original review of the trespassing ordinance to find out why it passed in the first place.

“If a constituent asks me to look into the constitutionality of something I've done I'm going to do it plain and simple,” Progressive City Councilor Max Tracy said.

Tracy voted in favor of the trespassing ordinance that went into effect in February, and so did 12 other members of the council.

But some of them are rethinking the ban, asking for the public release of a memo written by the city attorney.

“It became very important to us to see the constitutional rational that was put forward by the city attorney's office and sent, apparently, to the city council members,” Vermont Community Law Center board member Sandy Baird said.

Those against the release say it's protected under attorney-client privilege.

“This is an issue that unfortunately has been cast in the light of there must be something to hide, but there's really nothing to hide. It's just that we want to protect the constitutionality of exchanges with our lawyer,” Councilor Norm Blais said.

And while the debate plays out, the trespassing rule is in place.

According to police documents, in the past month and a half, two dozen people were hit with violations for disorderly conduct or unlawful mischief.

“It is incumbent upon us to make sure that all Vermonters and all citizens and residents of this city have equal access to public thoroughfares that they own,” Vermont Community Law Center Director Jared Carter said.

Critics say part of the problem with this trespassing ordinance is it allows police to be both the judge and the jury. So if you are issued a violation, you're banned without any due process. You can't even appeal it in person because you'd have to come here to the Marketplace offices which are also on Church Street

“If we ever found out that the police were abusing that power then I think at that time we should be should step in,” Blais explained.

“The problem is that it’s being invoked against the people who are usually under class. They don't have the money or the inclination to go to court and contest this thing,” John Franco said.

Franco is a former assistant city attorney. He believes the city should release the city attorney's review and completely reconsider the ordinance.

“Some people have said well isn't somebody going to sue? My concern is not that somebody is going to sue; my concern is that somebody won't sue. My concern is somebody won't challenge this in court because they don't have the time, the inclination, the experience or they're too intimidated to do it,” Franco said.

Last week, the council voted against releasing the city attorney's memo.